Man Sexually Assaulted 2 Elderly Women During Home Burglaries: Suffolk DA

SUFFOLK COUNTY, NY — A man was indicted Wednesday after he was accused of sexually assaulting two elderly women in Mastic Beach after breaking into their homes, Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond Tierney said.

Derrick Clancy, 42, who is homeless, faces burglary and sexual abuse charges. He faces up to life in prison if convicted of the top count.

"This defendant's alleged unconscionable behavior of breaking into the homes of two elderly women and sexually assaulting them is abhorrent," Tierney said in a news release. "My office is committed to protecting our senior population here in Suffolk County from those who would seek to take advantage of or harm them. I am thankful for the Suffolk County Police Department detectives' investigative work, and the United States Marshals Service's New York/New Jersey Regional Fugitive Task Force for locating and arresting the defendant."

A woman over 70 years old was alone inside her Mastic Beach home when she heard a noise during the early morning hours of Oct. 10, investigators said. Clancy broke into the woman’s home by cutting a hole in the window screen and climbing through a window, authorities said. Clancy physically and sexually assaulted the woman while repeatedly claiming he had a knife, officials said.

The woman pressed her medical alert system button for help following the assault, and Clancy climbed out through the same window he used to get in, the DA said. The woman was treated at a local hospital for her injuries, officials said.

The second attack happened during the early morning hours of Oct. 17 when a woman over 70 years old heard a noise coming from a closet inside her home, the DA said. When she looked in the closet, she saw Clancy coming into her home through a window, authorities said. Clancy then physically and sexually assaulted the woman, prosecutors said. He then fled the home, and she immediately called 911, investigators said. The woman was then treated at a local hospital for her injuries, officials said.

Suffolk police arrested Clancy and found the mask and knife he used during the first burglary, investigators said.

Clancy was charged with two counts of first-degree burglary, one count of second-degree aggravated sexual abuse, two counts of first-degree sexual abuse, two counts of second-degree assault, and two counts of criminal obstruction of breathing or blood circulation.

Clancy was ordered remanded while his case is heard. He is due back in court on Dec. 11. He is being represented by Michael Elbert.